Synopsis
chronicles the arrest and court martial of a respected black cavalry sergeant accused of raping and killing a white woman, then murdering her father, his superior officer. The story is told through flashbacks. After his arrest, the sergeant escapes captivity during an Indian raid. But he returns voluntarily to warn fellow cavalrymen of an ambush, thus saving their lives. After returning to captivity, the sergeant faces an all-white jury likely to convict him. But a local white man breaks down during questioning and makes a startling admission.